Please tell us a little bit about your journey to working at the Metro Transit Police Department.
This is actually my second time working at MTPD! I was a sworn officer at another agency previously but stepped away because I needed a break from being a licensed peace officer. During that time, I believe it was January 2022, I came here to supervise the Community Services Officers as a civilian. I really like community engagement work, and I was able to keep doing that through working with the CSOs. Ultimately, I did decide that I wanted to get back into working as a sworn law enforcement officer, and I was hired as a deputy for the Hennepin County Sheriff’s Office. I worked there for several years, but I kept in touch with everyone here.
When it felt like I had accomplished everything that I wanted to do at Hennepin County, I saw an opportunity to come be a cop here at Metro Transit. There were several big draws for me, including the relationships I had with people here, which made it feel like coming home. The other big one was the opportunities here, the different units and the chances to grow my career.
What is your current assignment?
I came back here in June 2026, and I am assigned to the Franklin/Cedar beat. That’s very exciting for me, because I know a lot of people in the community. The beat includes a native American corridor and the Cedar Riverside area, which is a big East African corridor. I know a lot of people in the Native American corridor, and I find my work there impactful. It’s been great to truly protect and serve the community members that I’ve gotten to know over the years.
The way I look at my job is to protect and serve the community, I need to be a part of that community and let people into my life a bit. So, my partner and I do tend to hang out in the community when we’re not on a call. We’ll hand out stickers to kids or just check in with the people there. That’s serving, and building those relationships makes us better at our jobs.
This is also my first time having a partner in the car with me, which makes this job a lot easier. I really enjoy working with my partner and having someone right there in the car with me.
We talk a lot about community engagement. What does that mean to you?
That means being at the table with community and engaging with them. That can look different depending on the needs of the community. At times the communities can have problems or concerns and maybe we can’t fix them ourselves as peace officers. But showing up, listening, and just being in the room – it speaks volumes. You may not be able to fix the problem, but you’re still saying “I’m here, I care, and I want to work alongside you.”
What do you like to do outside of work?
Outside of work you can find me hiking. My younger sister got me into it, and now I try to hike at least once a week. It can be a short hike, but my big goal is to hit all the Minnesota State Parks. It’s going to take me a while, maybe two or three years. But it’s so good for me. I put my phone on Do Not Disturb and enjoy the silence, so it’s good for the mental as well as the physical well-being.
I don’t have a favorite park, because they all have show me something special, or they all have their special qualities. I just really, truly like each one I’ve been to so far.
What’s a piece of advice you’ve been given that you would pass on to someone else?
Not to limit yourself. Even if you think you’re not meant to do something, try it anyways because the worst failure is never trying.